Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented lan. 8, I90I.

P. L. LINEHAN.' ACETYLENE GAS GENERATUR.

(Application led Apr. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets- (No Rodel.)

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, Patented 1an. s; 190|. P. L. LINEHAN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENEBATR.

(Application led Apr. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

fin/fn @n @il .su kr AAVNrrE 'rATES v PETER L. LINEHAN, OE SAN JOSE,CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH w. DELANEY, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forining part of Letters Patent No. 665,745, dated January8, 1901.

Application led April 17, 1899.

T a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER L. LINEHAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Jos, in the county of Santa Clara-and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Gas-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas-generatingapparatus, the oloject of my invention being to provide an apparatus ofthis character which shall be safe and convenient to operate and avoidwaste of gas; and in particular the objects of my invention have been toprovide means, first, for advantageously disposing of the gas whichcontinues to loe generated after admission tO the gasometer has beencutoff; secondly, for maintaining the generating-chamber at acomparatively low temperature, thereby avoiding injury to the packingand other parts; thirdly, for agitating the carbid so as to expose freshparts to the action of the water; fourthly, for preventing escape of thegas at a place liable to injure the health of the occupants of thebuilding, and, fifthly, for avoiding the necessity of charging theapparatus at night-time.

My invention further resides in the novel construction, combination, andarrangement of the parts hereinafter fully specified, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus, certain parts being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the water-tank, taken longitudinally through thegenerating-chamber. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of thegenerating-chamber. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the drum 25 toshow the clutch contained therein. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shaft of said drum detached. Fig.7 is a top plan view of certain valve-operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is atop View of an electrical connection, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofa valve-operating lever.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the water-tank of the apparatus,divided by a partition 2 into upper and lower compartments 3 4, andthrough said lower compartment 4,

Serial No. 713,406. No model.)

from one side to the other, extends the cylindrical generator casing 5.Said casing is closed at one end permanently and at the other end by thelid or cover 6, hinged thereto at 7. A packing 8 in an undercut annularrecess in said lid rests against the lip or edge of the casing 5 andrenders the same air-tight, said packing being preferably composed ofasbestos rope dipped in graphite grease, and in order to press saidpacking firmly against said lid there is provided a bar 9, hinged at oneend to a lug 10 on the casing and atthe other end passed over a hook 11on a diametrally opposite lug 12. Said bar 9 is enlarged in the centerand internally screw-threaded in said enlargement, and through saidthreaded portion passes the screw 13, which abuts against the lid 6,thus rendering the generator gas-tight. Within said generator iscontained the semicylindrical trough 14, said trough being mounted O11rollers 15, by which means it is readily withdrawn from and insertedinto the generating-chamber, and in the ends of said trough is revolublymounted on pivots or trunnions 16 17 the carbid-holder 18, made of wirenetting, with a suitable opening or door 19,through which to insert thecarbid.

The trunnion 17 at the end of the holder, which is iirstlinserted in thegenerator-casing, is formed with diverging fingers 20, which when theholder is inserted engage similar lingers 21 on a shaft 22, passedthrough an aperture suitably packed in the closed end of the casing,said shaft having an outer bearing 23 in a bracket 24, secured on theend of the casing 5. Upon said shaft 23 is loosely mounted a groovedpulley 25, and around said pulley is carried a cord 26, its lower endsupporting a weight 27 and its upper end being carried over a pulley 28,mounted at the top of the tank and then passed downward in a recess 29in the rim 30 of the tank-cover and attached to a .float 31, having avertical reciprocation, as hereinafter explained. Said pulley has anundercut cylindrical recess 32, having formed therein shallow grooves33, into which grooves is adapted to drop a clutch 34, sliding through aslot in the shaft 22. When the pulley 25 is rotating in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 4, the lower edge of IOO the clutch 34, having falleninto one of the grooves 33, is held therein, and the shaft 22 is therebycaused to rotate with the pulley 25; but when the pulley 25 rotates inthe opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow then a beveledsurface 35 at the lower end of said clutch, pressed by the edge of thegroove 33, causes said clutch to rise out of engagement therewith andthe shaft 22 is no longer revolved by the pulley 25. Thus areciprocating movement of the float 3l imparts a rotary movement inauniform direction to the carbid-holder. This construction effectnallyeX- poses different portions of the carbid in the holder to the actionof the water free from a covering of lime.

The water in the tank 1 normally fills the lower compartment 4 and ismaintained at a constant height in the upper compartment 3 by a float 44and valve 45, such as are common to control the admission oi' water. Thepartition 2 slopes slightly downward from the circumference to thecenter and from an aperture in the center a pipe 46 leads downward to ashort distance from the bottom of the lower compartment. from thewater-tank to the generator-casing through an aperture 47 and pipe 48,said pipe 'within said casing leading into two or more distributingperforated pipes 49, by means of which the water is sprinkled upon thecarbid. The gas generated by the combination of the Water and carbidpasses upward through the pipes 50 5l 52, valve 53, pipes 54 and 55, thelatter of siphon form, and discharges downward into the gasometer 56below the water-line 57 therein, whence it may entrance into thegasometer will cause thev upper cylinder 60 of the gasometer, suitably yweighted, as shown at 6l, to rise, heilig guided in its ascent by therollers 62 rolling on the standards 63, and during said ascent an arm 64willV ascend. Said arm 64 is pivotally secured, as shown at 65, to ablock 66, carrying antifriction-rollers 67, between which is a lever 68,attached to the valve 53. Thus the rise of said arm 64 will rock a lever68 and so close the valve 53, so that atapredetermined height of saiduppercylinder the gas will be entirely cut off therefrom.

An important feature of my invention is the provision which I have madefor the disposal of the gas,which will now continue for some time to begenerated in the casing. For this purpose I carry a pipe 77 from a joint78 in the pipe 5l to the pipe 48, and so through the aperture 47 areturn connection is made with the lower compartment of the watertank.The gas thus introduced into the compartment 4 will displace the waterfrom the upper portion of said compartment, forcing water up through thepipe 46 into the upper compartment until the level of thewater in Thewater is supplied i the lower compartment falls below the aper-` ture47. Then, although the water nolonger enters the generator through saidaperture, gas will continue for some time to be evolved from themoisture left in the generator. This gas will pass out from thegenerator both through the pipes 50 and 77 and through the perforatedpipes 49 and the pipe 48, and this gas will enter the lower compartmentof the tank and displace the water therefrom into the upper compartment.Thus said lower compartment serves as an auxiliary or reservestorage-tank for the gas brought into play only when the gasometer isfilled to its utmost desired capacity. The rise ofthe water in the uppercompartment, owing to its displacement from the lower compartment by thegas entering said lower compartment, will raise the floats 44 and 3labove the level at which they normally rest when the gas is beingevolved. This rise in said float will depend upon the amount of gasevolved from the moisture left in the generator. The float 3l will beraised to a height of about twelve inches in a machine of ordinary size.This will turn the carbid-holder through about one-half of a revolution,thus shaking all the ashes out of it into the pan below.

The capacity of the water-tank is such as y,ordinarily to hold all thegas that is generated after shutting oft from the gasometer; but Iobtain absolute safety from an excessive generation of gas by thefollowing construction: The upper compartment of the water-tank isclosed by the top 8O of a flattened conical forin, having a centralaperture, from which a pipe 81 leads sufficiently long to conduct theescaping gas to a height free from danger when the apparatus is set upinplace; but to insure that the escaping gas passes through the pipe 3land not up around the top 8O I provide said lid with a depending rim vorflange 30, extending down within the upper edge of the compartment 3,and the two compartments are so proportioned as to capacity that beforethe water in the lower compartment has descended to the bottom of thepipe 46 the water will have risen in the upper compartment above thelower edge of the rim 3l) and will then make a water seal, so that theescaping gas will be compelled to pass through the pipe S1.

Pipes S4 and 85 are used for drawing off water from the generatorandwater-tank, respectively, when necessary.

A further important feature of my invention is the provision made foravoiding the necessity of charging the apparatus at nighttime. For thispurpose there is provided an auxiliary generator 90, comprising an outercylinder 91, having a lid 92, and an inner cylinder or holder 93, inwhich the carbid is placed. A pipe 94, connected at 95 to the lowercompartment of the water-tank, leads inside the cylinder 9i andterminates in a sprinkler 96, by means of which the wateris sprinkledupon the carbid in the holder 93.

IOO

I'Io

When the carbid in the main generatoris exhausted and the gas in thegasometer is being consumed, the upper cylinder 60 falls uutil a finger100, carried on the arm 101,which supports the upper roller 62, butelectrically separated therefrom by the insulation 103, comes intoContact with the upper end of a light spring 104, supported on thestandard 63 and electrically separated therefrom by the insulation 105,said iinger 100 and spring 104 being connected by wires 106 to a battery107 and an annunciator 108 in any convenient place. Thus the descentofthe cylinder 60 automatically announces that the carbid in the maingenerator has been exhausted. The purpose of the light spring 104 is topermit the Lipper cylinder to descend and exert its full weight upon thecontained gas after electric contact has been made. Otherwise were thelower cont-act rigidly supported the pressure in the gasometer would beremoved, and the lights would go out. Immediate replacement of saidcarbid is not necessary, as the descent of the upper cylinder 60 causesthe lever GS to bear upon a spring-resisted rod 114, actuating a lever115, which opens a valve 116 in the pipe 94E to admit Water from thetank to the auxiliary generator. evolved from said generator passes bythe pipe 117 to the pipe 52 and thence through the valve 53 and pipes 5455 to the gasometer. The upper cylinder of the gasometer will then aftera time rise slightly until the lever 68 just rests on the rod 114 andmaintains open the valve 116 just sufficient to admit the necessaryamount of water to the generator 90 to provide the gas as fast as it isbeing consumed. The supply of carbid in said auxiliary generator will besufficient to last one night, so that fresh charging of the maingenerator is not required until the next day. After the gas has beenexhausted from the lower compartment 4 the water will rise therein andwill, unless prevented, enter the main generating-chamber 5. avoided, asthe admission of water to the residuum of the carbid will produce aslimy mixture, which is diflicult to remove Without injury to theclothing, whereas the residuum of lime in its dry state can readily beshaken out. For the purpose of preventingentrance of the water into saidcasing 5 after the carbid has been exhausted 'I attach to a valve 120 inthe pipe 48 a lever121, a cord or wire 122 connecting the end of saidlever121with the arm 123 of a bell-crank lever mounted at 124 upon oneof the standards 63, the other arm, 125, of said lever being adapted tobe depressed by a linger 126, carried bythe arm 64. Thus the descent. ofthe gasometer by Great heat The gas' This is to be is produced in thegenerating-chamber by the chemical changes there undergone, and thisheat would have a tendency to impair the efficiency of the packing andother parts connected with said chamber. By the immersion of thegenerating-casing in the water of the tank 1 this heat is rapidlyabstracted and the temperature of the casing is maintained comparativelylow.

I claim- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of upper andlower water-chambers, a pipe leading from a point near' the bottom ofthe lower chamber to the upper cham ber,a gas-generatin g chamberconnected with the lower chamber, and a gasometer connected with saidgenerating-chamber and automatically controlling its connectiontherewith, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of two Water-chambers,a gas-generating chamber connected with one of said water-chambers, saidlatter chamber having a-connection leading from a point near its bottomto the other water-chamber, and a gasometer connected with saidgas-generating chamber and automatically controlling its connectiontherewith, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water-tank, acylindrical generator and chamber extending horizontally entirelythrough said tank, the ends of said chamber extending beyond the sidesof the tank, a carbid-holder in said chamber removable therefrom, a pipeleading from said tank and discharging in the upper portion of saidchamber, and a gasometer connected with said chamber, -substantially asdescribed.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a Water-tankpartitioned into upper and lower compartments, a pipe leading from apoint near thebottom of the lower compartment into the uppercompartment, a conical .cover for the upper compartment, having a rimextending down Within the top of said compartment, a pipeleading fromthe center of said top to a distant point, and a generator supplied withwater from the lower compartment, substantially described.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water-tank,partitioned into upper and lower compartments, apipe leading froma pointnear the bottom of the lower compartment into the upper compartment, agas-generator, a gasometer, a pipe leading from the lower compartmentinto the gasgenerator and having a sprinkler therein, and a pipe leadingfrom the generator to the gasometer, said generator being connected withthe lower compartment independently of the pipe for sprinkling,substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a water-tank,partitioned into upper and lower compartments, a pipe leading IOO IIO

through said tank, a carbid-holder revolubly mounted in said chamber, afloat in said tank, an operative connection between said float andholder whereby the rise and fall of the float rotates the holder, agasometer, a

conduit from the generating-chamber to the gasometer, a valvecontrolling said conduit, and automatically closing when the gasometerrises to a predetermined point, means for conducting the surplus gasthen generated into the tank, and means whereby the gas thus conducteddisplaces the water in the tank upwardly, thereby raising the oat andshifting the carbid-holder, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing wit'- nesses. E

PETER L. LINEHAN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. W. SMYTH, FRANCIS M. WRIGHT.

